Eye Liner Stay Put!

Eye liner has a special place in our hearts, but environmental and genetic factors (read: heat, humidity, and oily skin) seem to melt the product right off our lids, even in any liner medium! If you're of the sort who can't last a whole day without a smudge, here are a few techniques to keep your strokes and sweeps staying sharp.

PRIME

A good eye primer can mean the difference between a bold wing and an (unintentional) black eye. Most apply their shadow protector solely on lids, but be sure to dab your wand—NARS and Urban Decay are favorites—underneath and around the lower lash line as well. This prevents dark pigment from traveling any further south.

COVER

If you love the convenience of a pencil but hate how easily it smudges, grab an angled brush and a matching matte eye shadow. Press the powder over the original liner you drew, and smoke it out without sacrificing staying power.

SEAL

If shadow just isn't cutting it, step it up with a liquid mixing medium—Inglot's Duraline is pro! Line as usual, then apply the Shellac-for-lids sealant right on top. Bonus tip: With a colorless varnish in your kit, any loose pigment instantly becomes a custom-mixed liner.

WATERPROOF

At the end of the day, sometimes good vs. greasy eye makeup comes down to the formula you begin with. Invest in a few key water-resistant products—L'Oréal Infallible Gel Lacquer is invincible—and your eyes will never go running for more.

Nail Lacquer—What's the Shelf Life?

Unlike mascara’s lightening-fast turnover rate, nail polish is one of those beauty products that takes a lot longer to use up, but tends to stay in cabinets and counters for decades (seriously—we’ve spotted bottles from the last century). Contrary to powders and blushes that come with a suggested makeup expiration date—check the little icon in the back of the compact—lacquers, top and base coats, and special nail treatments don’t exactly have a mandated shelf life. So when do you toss them?
According to Schoon Scientific president Doug Schoon (who formerly served as CND’s VP of Science and Technology), the FDA does not designate the shelf life of nail polish, so it’s up to the manufacturer to determine the appropriate date. “Unopened and properly stored polish will last at least 18 months, possibly 24 months depending on storage conditions,” says Doug. Real talk—two years is a little early to ditch that half-used splurge, so it’s more important to look for signs of a spoiled bottle instead of relying on the date.

SPOTTING AN EXPIRED NAIL POLISH

Texture is a dead giveaway for varnish gone wrong. Older bottles typically feel thick, clumpy, and are troublesome to apply an even coat compared to newer, runnier textures. “Over time, some ingredients begin to clump together, making it difficult to remix them,” clarifies Doug.

HOW TO PRESERVE YOUR NAIL POLISH

But like all beauty products, a long shelf life begins with a little TLC. “Your nail polish should last forever, as long as you store it properly,” asserts Essie Cosmetics founder Essie Weingarten, whose famous lacquered lineup includes over 250 cult-loved shades we probably own over half of. As long as the polish is stored out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dark setting—”the light and heat can break down the drying time,” she explains—and the bottle of the neck is kept clean with acetone, there’s no reason why you can’t keep the nail renaissance going and going.

Tried and True: Classic Beauty Staples You Need to Own

There are some products that have stood the test of time. For years they have proved to be loyal companions, washing our faces through high school and graduation and moisturizing limbs for weddings and first dates. These items are classic, and they probably first lived in your mom or sister’s bathroom cabinets before secretly making their way into yours. We love these cult beauty favorites, but so often, they are forgotten. So for those beauty beginners, or anyone looking for the unsung heroes in the beauty world, here's a list of the most prized creams, soaps, and lotions. If you don’t have any of these goodies in your vanity, be sure to add them to your shopping list.

CETAPHIL DAILY FACIAL CLEANSER

Beloved by editors and celebrities worldwide, this super gentle yet extremely effective formula is perfect for a sensitive complexion and helps to balance your skin’s natural oil production. If you’re searching for a basic, no-frills cleanser, be sure to give the drugstore essential a try.

AQUAPHOR

No matter how many fancy new lip moisturizers, glosses, or balms appear on the market, we’ll always come back to Aquaphor. The ultimate lip healer, you can also use this multitasking jelly as a highlighter on your cheekbones and cupid’s bow, mix it with eye shadow to create a dewy blush, or even slick it on as a moisturizer when in need.

OLIVE OIL

This isn’t just a kitchen staple, the rich, aromatic olive oil has a multitude of uses in your vanity. Slather it all over your hair as a deep conditioning treatment, apply some on a cotton ball and remove stubborn waterproof makeup, smooth a few drops onto your legs for a subtle sheen, or mix a little oil with sugar for a DIY lip scrub!

DR. BRONNER'S MAGIC PURE CASTILLE LIQUID SOAP

Looking for an all-in-one? This USDA certified organic liquid soap combines extra virgin olive oil, jojoba oil, and vitamin E for a thorough yet gentle clean. Use it as a shampoo, face wash, hand soap, brush cleaner—or anything that needs a scrub!

PREPARATION H

Preparation H may not seem like the most elegant of under eye creams, but this hemorrhoid cream has been a backstage staple for years. The formula diminishes black circles and puffy eyes almost immediately.

Your Lips, But Better

Up there with flawless foundation and lash-defining mascara, the search for a universal lip color is never ending. And we hate to break it to you, but one size doesn’t fit all. Your friend’s favorite shade may look absolutely terrible on you, because like skin, lips have their own color profile to deal with. The ideal neutral is a unique cocktail comprised of peach, pink, rose, brown, and red pigments, so it’s a bit of a hunt to search for the color that flatters your lip color, not someone else’s. To begin, observe your naked lips in the mirror with daylight. Which undertones do you note? Are they light and fleshy, do they take on deeper tones of rose, mauve, or brown, or are they perpetually flushed? Your coordinating neutral should enhance those natural nuances.
At the counter, swatch lipsticks a half a shade to a shade darker than your natural lip—the extra pigment gives your complexion a boost, and anything lighter will wash them out without additional makeup. The quest for your holy grail lipstick is a difficult journey, but these shades may set you on the right path.

Those with blushed, rosier lips, try...

Tarte Cosmetics Glamazon Pure Performance 12-Hour Lipstick in Playful

Those with lighter, pinker lips, try...

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Peach Blossom

Those with cooler, mauver lips, try...

Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner in Blossom Lady

Those with warmer, browner lips, try...

Laura Mercier Crème Smooth Lip Colour in Rosewood

Where do Your Dark Spots Come From?

Ever feel relieved to see a pimple disappear then notice a dark spot forming underneath, or get frustrated at the marks that seem to appear overnight on your skin? Pigmentation is the skin’s way of protecting itself, but to the mirror, it’s just an unsightly annoyance. According to New York City-based dermatologist Anne Chapas, M.D., there are plenty of ways to rid yourself of these annoying spots, and it all starts with proper sun protection.
“The dark spot that forms when a pimple disappears is called post-inflammatory pigmentation,” explains Dr. Chapas. “Your skin has just been damaged and hurt, so the area is inflamed. Then, when it hits sunlight, the inflamed area immediately turns dark.” This intensity in color is caused by melanin, a molecule in your skin that turns brown when it is trying to protect itself. A tan is essentially melanin molecules changing color all over your body to protect your cells from damage—think of it as an external band-aid. In terms of treatment, there are a few options. “Never pick the pimple, this will increase the inflammation and pigmentation,” warns Dr. Chapas. “As soon as the skin has healed, apply SPF every day.”
And sunspots? Unfortunately they can’t be treated the same way as regular pigmentation (the damage is more permanent!), so enlist the help of a laser or strong chemical peel. Of course, lightening serums and retin-A products do work to some extent, but at a much slower pace. And remember, sunscreen is your best friend.

Beauty Blast From The Past: Growing Up Lipstick

Calling all lipstick lovers! Ever wonder where your fixation with lip products began? Look no further! We’ve dug up some favorite lipstick ephemera from our childhood to refresh your hazy memories, and help you recall the early stages of makeup addiction. Don’t fret, we were there too. Who would have thought that an innocent piece of candy or a vital school supply would play such a crucial role in our obsession with sticks, glosses, balms, and more? Take a look at some of the best in childhood lipstick nostalgia and don’t worry—even though your current makeup stash may be growing out of control, at least your lips look fierce!

Candy Lipstick

Growing up, our frequent after school sweet shop binges usually resulted in a handful of candy lipsticks. The two-inch plastic tubes came in red, pink, purple, and orange, and held a powdery candy stick that tasted tangy like Sweet Tarts. We remember fondly scraping the fruity candy sticks across our mouth—was it the candy itself or the scraping that turned our lips red? Either way, candy lipstick was the ultimate treat for grade-school makeup mavens and wee drag queens in training. Thank Sathers for starting our cosmetic cravings early!

Lipstick Erasers

The definitive school supply for the elementary makeup obsessive. Lipstick erasers rubbed out our pencil lines just as good as any old Pink Pearl but the roll-up plastic tube looked just like mommy’s staple Revlon. Our favorite was grape-scented and glittery, but it still looked oh-so-mature and womanly nestled in the bottom of our plastic clutch—okay, our pencil case. We’re still not sure what lipstick has to do with erasing, but at any rate it provided a novel classroom distraction.

Lip Gloss Rings

Fruity, fab, and always at hand—lip gloss jewelry was the ultimate cosmetic option for ‘90s preteens. The novelty of having your wackiest albeit tackiest jewelry double as a grown-up pot of gloss put a stop to us stealing our older sister’s tinted tubes. Though for many, lip gloss rings conjure up memories of mall trips to Claire’s, several companies still produce lip gloss rings, including ‘90s favorite Hard Candy. Though lip gloss rings may not be the most fashion-forward trend, wearing them nowadays will make you the most most popular kid on Tumblr.

Flavored Chapstick

The invention of fun-flavored chapstick played such a crucial role in our child and teen years that the mere thought of it not existing seems, well—flavorless. Our Bonne Bell Lip Smackers in Strawberry, Vanilla, and Watermelon were an extra-special treat that we could get away with gliding on any old time, and collecting the ever-growing array of exotic balm flavors was a habit we convinced our parents to support based on the simple idea that lip balm is good for you. The result was baby soft lips for life and more expired tubes sitting in our makeup drawer than we ever could have anticipated.

Teenage Skin Care Lifesavers

As beauty lovers, there’s nothing we believe in more than the importance of looking after your skin—and that means starting early. The bane of many a teen’s existence is a face full of pimples, and we’re the first to say that a blemish or a bad skin day is enough to get your confidence down in high school. A spotty complexion may cause low self esteem, teasing, and a lifetime of insecurities. Your early teens are prime time to really start loving your body, looking after yourself, and paying attention to your complexion. A proper regimen—cleansing, toning, and moisturizing—is the easiest way to begin, and the occasional spot treatment and face mask doesn’t hurt either. Luckily, you don’t have to raid your parents’ medicine cabinets for their tried-and tested; myriad gentle formulas exist for the younger set. For more serious skin issues, nothing replaces a trip to the dermatologist, but start with these basics and you’ll be skin set for life.

1. Cleanser

We’re almost tired of telling you to clean your face, but this can be one of the most important steps in reducing blemishes (as well as changing your pillowcase regularly, where bacteria can build!). We love the creamy consistency of Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser, which contains an extremely high amount of amino acids to encourage cell reproduction and boost hydration and radiance. For sleepovers and camping trips, stash a bag of Yes To Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes in your bag—the lycopene in tomatoes helps to prevent acne.

2. Moisturizer

For younger skin (which tends to be oilier from stark hormonal changes), it’s best to opt for an oil-free moisturizer. You’ll still be getting a good dose of hydration, but the light formula won’t clog your pores. Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Moisturizer is a great starter.

3. Spot Treatment

When a blemish appears, the only thing you want to do is squeeze—resist we tell you! Instead, try an industry loved skin-saver such as Kate Somerville’s 24 Hour Pimple Punisher. The double-ended product works both as an immediate anti-inflammatory and overnight treatment on problem spots. Apply a small dot of the clay at night (and when you feel the pimple appearing) and the clear gel (which contains salicylic acid to kill bacteria) during the day.